Dimmer-light-switch support.



L. L. WINTERS. DIMMER LIGHT SWITCH SUPPORT.

Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

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LEE L. WINTERS, 0F MONROE, MICHIGAN.

DIMMER-LIGHT-SWITCH SUPPORT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnn L. WINTERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Monroe, in the county of Monroe and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Dimmer-Light-Switch Support; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to irnake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to means for conveniently supporting switches for reducing the candle power of an automobile electric lamp. The switch is preferably mounted on the steering post of the automobile and means is provided whereby the switch may be securely clamped to the steering post.

Constructions containing the invention may partake of different forms. I have se lected one of such constructions and shall describe it hereinafter. The construction selected is illustrated in the drawing.

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the switch. Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of the switch. Fig. 3 illustrates a rear view of the switch.

1 is the steering post to which the switch is secured. The switch 1s located in a cylindrical shell 3 andis of a type Well known in the art. The cylinder 3 is provided with a cover 8 which is connected to a bracket 9. The contacts of the switch are connected to the resistance 10. When the plunger 5 is pulled up in the cylinder 3 the resistance 10 is short-circuited and when the plunger 5 is pushed down in the cylinder 3 the circuit between the contacts is broken and the current passes through the resistance 10. When the resistance is short-circuited, substantially all the current is converted into light. When, however, the resistance 10 is in the circuit, some of the watts are consumed by the resistance.

The bracket 9 for supporting the cylinder 3 and the resistance 10 is provided with two inwardly extending flanges 15 which are secured to the cover 8 by means of the screws 16. The bracket 9 is provided with two arcuate clamping members or jaws 17 which fit over the sides or rounded edges of the steering post.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for Specification of Letters Patent.

In the Ford car the steering post issubstantially elliptical in cross section, and the jaws 17 t over the rounded edges of the post. The sides 18 of the bracket 9 are elastic and permit the curved jaws or clamping members 17 to be slipped over the rounded edges of thepost, when one of the screws 16 is removed from the cover and one of the flanges 15. When, however, the jaws or clamping members are placed in position, they may be secured therein by inserting in place the screw 16. By this means the jaws 17 areheld in clamping relation on the post and thus the bracket is securely held in position.

The resistance 10 is preferably coiled, and in order to prevent contact between the resistance 10 and the bracket 9, or with the post 1, the central part of the resistance is secured to the cylinder 3 of insulating mate rial by means of a screw 19. By this means the resistance 10 is held securely in position, and contact or short-cireuiting of the lamp is prevented. Flickering of light due to vibration, resulting in intermittent shortcircuiting, is also avoided.

The bracket moreover is so, made as to form a housing 20 for the receipt of the switch member and also to inclose the resistance, and thus these parts are protected by the shape of the bracket.

I claim:

1. In a supporting bracket, the combination of a pair of elastic clamping jaws formed of a single piece of sheet metal, the sheet metal bent to form a box shape inclosing portion, a pair of inwardly extending flanges extending over the box shaped portion and extending from near the jaws to near the corners of the box shaped inclosing portion, a transverse member having means connected to the flanges for holding the clamping jaws in clamped position.

2. In a supporting bracket, the combination of a pair of elastic clamping jaws formed of a single piece of sheet metal, the sheet metal bent to form a box shape inclosing portion, and having inwardly extending flanges, a transverse member having means connected to the flanges for holding the clamping jaws in clamped position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

LEE L. WINTERS.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

Application filed January 2, 1917. Serial No. 140,108. r 

